The 4 Parts of Code for Websites

The code for websites, and for programs in general, can be divided into four categories, according to the code’s function. See also the figure following this list:

Appearance: Appearance is the visible part of the website, including content layout and any applied styling, such font size, font typeface, and image size. This category is called the front end and is created using languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Logic: Logic determines what content to show and when. For example, a New Yorker accessing a news website should see New York weather, whereas Chicagoans accessing the same site should see Chicago weather. This category is part of the group called the back end and is created using languages like Ruby, Python, and PHP. These back end languages can modify the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that is displayed to the user.

Storage: Storage saves any data generated by the site and its users. User-generated content, preferences, and profile data must be stored for retrieval later. This category is part of the back end and is stored in databases like MongoDB and MySQL.

Infrastructure: Infrastructure delivers the website from the server to you, the client machine. When the infrastructure is properly configured, no one notices it, but it can become noticeable when a website becomes unavailable due to high traffic from events like presidential elections, the Super Bowl, and natural disasters.

Usually, website developers specialize in one or at most two of these categories. For example, an engineer might really understand the front end and logic languages, or specialize in only databases. Website developers have strengths and specializations, and outside of these areas their expertise is limited, much in the same way that Jerry Seinfeld, a terrific comedy writer, would likely make a terrible romance novelist.

The rare website developer proficient in all four of these categories is referred to as a full stack developer. Usually, smaller companies hire full stack developers, whereas larger companies require the expertise that comes with specialization.

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